Veteran Louisiana Deputy Fired For Allegedly Spying On Former Girlfriend

A long-serving sheriff's deputy in Louisiana who allegedly told his supervisor that he had planted a recording device in his ex-girlfriend's bedroom has been fired and arrested, following a brief investigation.

As The (Baton Rouge) Advocate reports, David Pizzolato Jr. went inside his ex-girlfriend's apartment in early January, using a key that he had, and placed a digital recording device on her headboard, the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office said this week.

The 41-year-old veteran law-enforcement officer (pictured) reportedly used the key eight times during the month to check the recording device, sheriff's spokeswoman Casey Rayborn Hicks tells the newspaper.

The girlfriend found the device Feb. 17 and called the sheriff's office to file a complaint, but didn't want to press charges against Pizzolato or for him to lose his job, Baton Rouge television station WAFB reports.

On the same day, Pizzolato reportedly told his supervisor about the recording device, saying he placed it there to monitor his ex-girlfriend's treatment of their small child, the media reports say, adding that he also admitted to entering the woman's home on several occasions without her knowledge.

The alleged actions prompted an investigation and Pizzolato was placed on administrative leave.

He was arrested Tuesday and charged with eight counts of unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling, according to WAFB. He was also charged with interception and disclosure of wire, electronic or oral communications.

Pizzolato had been employed by the sheriff's office for 16 years and was serving as a sergeant in the traffic division at the time of his dismissal.